by Rain Oxford
* * *
Logan woke me when he opened the back of the truck. Deimos and Phobos, who were on either side of me, didn’t move until I sat up. “Is this dark enough for you?” Logan asked, gesturing to the dimly lit sky. The sun wasn’t far below the horizon.
“It’ll do, yes.” I got out, followed by the boys. We were parked in an alley. We emerged between a tattoo shop and a tobacco shop. The town was small, similar to Lilly’s, but also more rundown. I smelled fear and greed in the air. There were some rotten people around.
The dogs both bristled, as if they sensed something coming. “Have you heard any whispers or had any visions?” Logan asked.
“I had a dream about my childhood, but no whispers or strangers.”
“What was your dream?”
“Remember Joshua Fox?”
“The man who captured you and experimented on you when your father disappeared? Yes.”
“He admitted to shooting me when I was two, but I didn’t remember it.”
“Because you were two. I figured he was lying. You weren’t a paranormal then, so I don’t see how you could have survived being shot.”
“Yeah, I didn’t believe him, either. My dad’s not a paranormal, so he couldn’t have healed me. I figured Joshua lied to justify experimenting on me. Yet I just dreamed of him shooting me.”
“Perhaps it was a dream based on the story.”
“If things were ever that simple, I could believe that. Did you find the woman?”
“I talked to the priest she went to and we’re supposed to meet her at nine in the church.”
“Wait, you were able to enter a church?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be able to?”
“Never mind. Is it close enough to walk?”
“It is if we hurry.”
“Then let’s do that. I’ve had enough sitting around to last me a year.” We walked for a few minutes in silence. I wished I believed my memory was just a dream. Focus on the case, I thought to myself. My past was behind me. Even if I figured out what happened to my father, it wouldn’t bring him back.
We entered a park where three teenaged boys were huddled together. Deimos growled. “What’s he saying?” Logan asked.
“You do know he’s a wolf-dog, right? I can’t speak dog.”
“Yes, but what is he saying?”
“They’re up to something.” Deimos growled and snorted as if he smelled something nasty. “Drugs, apparently.”
Logan nodded. “That is unfortunate.”
“I’m surprised you feel that way. I didn’t think you would care about someone who would do something like that to himself.”
“I don’t. I’m simply acknowledging the inefficiency. There are many ways they can attain power without destroying their brain and body.”
“It can be hard for someone to get a job if they’re homeless.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about. The homeless who can’t get a job due to a lack of open positions, their skill, or intelligence, could simply rob a bank. If they fail, they get a place to live and food to eat. If they don’t fail, they have money.”
* * *
The church was not what I was expecting; it was subtle, resembling an old, red brick schoolhouse. Logan opened the door and we entered. Exposed brick walls gave it an old-fashioned feel, which was ruined by the religious artwork. There was a stage centered on the far wall. A walkway down the middle of the room divided the pews. On either side of the stage was a door. The aura of the church was somber.
There were only two people, who were talking to a man I assumed was the priest. He was five-ten and slender, with short black hair and all black clothes except for the traditional white collar. When the people left, we were alone with the priest, who approached us easily.
“Arks, this is Aurora,” Logan said. “She’s the one I said was working with me on the investigation.”
I shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you,” I lied.
“And you. You’re not an FBI agent, are you?” he asked.
“No. I’m more of a private investigator and I haven’t been at it for long.”
“Well, you have the face for it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You look authoritative without being unreasonable.”
“Is Melissa here yet?” Logan asked, his tone laced with impatience.
“Not yet,” Arks said. “She should be along any moment, though.”
“If she’s still alive.”
“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.”
“I was being optimistic.”
Deimos and Phobos, who had split up to explore the church the moment we stepped inside, were sniffing at the door to the right of the stage. Phobos growled. “What’s in there?” I asked.
“We shelter homeless and abuse victims.”
“Yeah? Anyone in there now?”
Deimos tried the knob. Some he could work with his paws, but this one was new and smooth, so he couldn’t.
“A young man who has nothing to do with Mellissa or the danger she’s in.”
Phobos scratched at the door.
“My boys believe he’s important.” I went to the door. When Arks tried to stop me, Logan blocked him.
“As much as I enjoy watching her fight, I suspect you will prove useful and therefore, it would be counterproductive to let you get killed,” Logan said.
I opened the door. Inside were five beds, five nightstands, and some religious paintings on the walls. That was it. There was only one person; a boy about fifteen, sitting on a bed. He was a tall, thin, pale kid with dark brown eyes and black hair. With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realized I recognized him from one of my visions.
Terror wafted from him, but I wasn’t sure if it was the dogs or something else that had frightened him. I entered the room alone and shut the door behind me. Deimos growled, not liking to be left out.
“My name is Rory,” I said.
He looked at me, then lowered his eyes without a word.
“It’s a bit late, isn’t it? Do you want me to turn out the light so that you can sleep?”
He started shaking.
“Okay, I won’t.” I sat on the bed across from him. “What’s your name?”
“Michael,” he said.
“Can you look at me?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“Why not?” It was really damn hard to thrall someone who was too afraid to look me in the eyes.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Well, that makes two of us. I don’t want you to hurt me, either. How will looking at me hurt me?”
“It just will.”
“Now it’s intriguing. You’re better off making up a lie if you don’t want people asking questions. Where are your parents?”
“My parents?”
I scoffed. “Here’s your first lesson in Lying 101; people often repeat what you say when they’re lying because it gives them a second to think.”
He blushed furiously. “Go away.”
“Not until you tell me something that will explain my dogs’ behavior. Something about you sparked their interest.”
After a second, he lifted his head, his eyes wide with shock as if I had just said the most startling thing in the world. “Leave now,” he said.
“No,” I repeated.
“How… how can you… no one tells me no.”
“That’s called being spoiled and it isn’t pretty.”
“That’s not what I mean. A year ago, I was normal. Something in me changed and now people do anything I tell them to. My mother said I inherited it from my father and since I developed it, he would come after me. She was so afraid of him that she kicked me out.”
“Couldn’t you have ordered her to let you stay?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to be like that. I don’t want anyone to be as terrified of me as she was of him. Then, a month ago, these people started coming to me. They called themselves sha
dow walkers and they wanted me to join them. They said if I didn’t, I would die. I could tell them to go away and they would, but they’d be back the next day. How can you disobey?”
My first thought was that it didn’t work on me because I was a vampire. Then I remembered the amulet Logan gave me. Instead of answering, I said, “Don’t give any commands for a few minutes, okay?” He nodded and I took off the amulet. Instantly, my head throbbed with pain and I couldn’t hear anything over the sharp, hissing whispers.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, reaching for me as I fell forward. Before I hit the ground, however, I was in a forest, looking out over a backyard. A man sat in a lawn chair with a black dog. The dog spotted me instantly and started growling.
Then I was back in the room and the boy was freaking out. The whispers had stopped, but the pain was slow to fade. I felt the amulet against my chest and looked at it. The boy had put it on me. “Thanks,” I said.
“What was that?”
“It’s shielding my mind from magic and I didn’t realize how much magic was being thrown at me.” That supported the theory that the whispers had something to do with people who were being attacked. “Are you okay with the shadow walkers or do you need help?”
“I can tell them to go away.”
“If one of them comes to you, tell him not to move. Then text me. Do you have a phone?” He nodded and pulled it out of his pocket. I gave him my phone number. “Also, you said you inherited the ability. Who was your father?”
“A wizard named John Cross.”
That was the wizard who had killed Logan’s father.
I returned to the main room, where Logan was talking to Arks. I didn’t want to tell him anything in front of Arks. I was sure that Logan wouldn’t have a problem with Michael being John Cross’s son.
A woman threw open the door and rushed in. She was five-four, in her mid-thirties with greasy, dirty blond hair and hazel eyes. “I’m here,” she announced needlessly.
“Are you Melissa Preston?” Logan asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m Logan and this is Aurora.”
“You can help me?”
“That depends. Who is after you?”
Instead of answering, she looked at Arks. The priest gestured to a door to the left of the stage. “There is a room back there where you can discuss the situation in private.” We went to the door, which opened into what looked like an elementary classroom… that was full of religious stuff. The chalkboard was covered in bible quotes, there was a bible on every student desk, and the walls were covered in religious posters.
“Now, please explain the situation,” Logan said.
“My oldest sister, Ashley, died two days ago. Last night, my sister, Jessica died. I’m next. I’m going to die tonight if you don’t help.”
“You told Arks they were mummified,” Logan said. She nodded. “Elaborate.”
“Jessica called me yesterday morning because she found Ashley dead in the kitchen. Ashley had stopped answering her texts about ten the previous night, so that’s when we think she was killed.”
“Did you call the authorities?”
She shook her head. “Jessica was terrified that she would be blamed because she dabbled with magic in college. She was the one who…” She trailed off and carefully considered her next words. “After Jessica died, I knew why they were killed and I knew I was next.”
“What happened?” I asked. I was prepared to thrall her, but I didn’t think it was going to be necessary. She was too desperate for help to protect her dignity.
“In college, Ashley had this creepy-ass boyfriend. He convinced her to make a deal with a demon. It wasn’t for her soul or anything; the demon got to stay here on Earth if he fulfilled a deal with her. She asked for money and became an overnight millionaire. It was a mutually beneficial deal and the demon was actually a pretty cool guy. So, she told Ashley and me what happened. Ashley wanted to make a deal, too, but she had nothing to offer the demon. He said he had some friends, though, who wanted passage to Earth, so they summoned up another demon and she made a deal with him, for money and the man she was in love with. The demon gave her both happily and was free to stay here.”
“And you made a deal as well?” Logan asked.
“I didn’t want to do it, but both my sisters were pressuring me and my parents were going to stop paying my tuition. I was addicted to pain pills and I wasn’t smart enough to graduate college and I had the best dog in the world who was getting older… so I made a deal to fix all of that. I can never get addicted to anything, I was smart enough to get my degree, and Stormy will stay young and healthy for as long as I’m alive. She’s twenty years old and she’s as fit as a two-year-old.”
“Nothing went wrong with your deal?”
“No. I couldn’t be happier about it. Ashley spent all hers and Jessica’s money, and Jessica’s husband was an abusive psychopath who tried to kill her, but that was all on them, not the demons.”
“You think they were mummified and you’re next based solely on the fact that you three made deals with demons?” Logan asked.
She nodded.
“Excuse us for a few minutes so that we can discuss the plan, and then we’ll help you with your problem,” I said. Relief flooded her and she left. “That makes a lot of sense. Your mother made a deal with your father, Don made a deal with his demon wife, and I bet Tom made a deal to get the woman of his dreams.”
“The timing is off, but the connection does sound plausible. That doesn’t explain why people are dying, though. Don’s wife didn’t seem to have a clue it was related. Did you smell a lie on her?”
“No. We can watch her tonight. It could be a witch or wizard looking to kill people who set demons free on Earth.”
“Or an artifact that kills demon-tainted people,” he suggested.
“Does that endanger everyone you’ve ever dealt with?”
“If it’s a magical artifact, yes. If it’s a person doing this, I doubt it. I’ve made countless deals. It sounds like the deals Melissa and her sisters made were different because the demons couldn’t make more than one deal.”
“If they were telling the truth.”
“Right, but if we question the honesty of everyone in this investigation, we will be chasing our tails. While I don’t trust demons, let’s assume they were telling the truth until the clues suggest otherwise.”
“Do you think a wizard or demon is more likely the cause of this?”
“I trust wizards even less than demons because demons will keep their end of the deal and I’ve known too many wizards who think they don’t have to. That being said, I’ve only known a few wizards who are powerful enough to pull something like this off, whereas any full demon could. That doesn’t explain why wizards are being killed or going missing, though, unless they have also been making deals.”
“They might have been, but I don’t think they’re related.” I explained to him what had happened with Michael. “Have you ever heard of shadow walkers?” I asked when I was done.
He shook his head. “No. It sounds like a magic cult to me. The mummifier and the shadow walkers might be enemies or allies of each other, which would explain the recent activity from both, but not the whispers or visions. That still sounds like you’re becoming psychic to me.”
“I wish Astrid was here. I never studied to be an investigator.”
“Then why not go home?” he asked me.
“Because I want to know what’s going on. Plus, Lilly would make a terrible orphan. I can ask Cindy about magic cults and shadow walkers, but I’m not expecting an answer.”
“I don’t know enough about demons to give you definite answers. However, consider what a demon is.”
“A ridiculously powerful being.”
“Who can also look like an ordinary person,” he added.
“Like Susan. I get what you’re saying. I didn’t believe in demons until I faced one, so Ryker’s coven might be confusing demons for wizards. Mi
chael wasn’t a demon, though.”
“Are you sure? I didn’t know John Cross personally. He could have been anything.”
“Let’s take care of Melissa tonight. Michael will text me if he catches one of the shadow walkers.”
We let Melissa back in and when I suggested we walk, she gaped at me. “We’d get killed. Besides, I don’t want my car broken into.”
“Then l hope your vehicle is large enough for the five of us,” Logan said. Phobos bumped against him with affection, nearly knocking Logan down. Because he was always with me and I could handle him, he forgot his strength sometimes.
* * *
It turned out Melissa had a 2003 Ford Expedition, which was easily large enough for the five of us, and she lived ten minutes away. As she drove, her grip was tight on the wheel with nerves. Finally, she asked, “How is it you can help me, exactly? Are you wizards?”
“No. I’m a vampire,” I said easily.
She squeaked. “Are you going to kill me?”
“That’s the stupidest question I’ve heard all month. I don’t kill the people I drink from and I don’t drink from every single human I meet.”
“Are you a vampire, too?” she asked Logan.
“No. I own a magic shop.” That was all he said about the matter.
Melissa lived in a better part of town and actually had a decent, one-story brick house with a garage and a small porch.
We got out and I sent the boys to scout the exterior of the house. They did, and only when they returned with nothing to report did we go inside. Again, the boys searched the interior of the house first before returning to the living room and sitting. They hadn’t found any signs of magic.
Melissa let Stormy out of her crate in the mudroom. She was a beautiful Doberman who greeted us like we were her favorite people. “That’s strange,” Melissa said. “She doesn’t like anyone and she’s extremely dog-aggressive.” Deimos and Phobos ignored Stormy as she tried to entice them to play. Dog toys littered the floor, but aside from that, the house was clean and ordinary.
Melissa was willing to let us do whatever we had to in order to protect her. “Since there’re no hex bags or talismans, there’s not much we can do if it’s witchcraft,” Logan said.